Currently...

I am the founder of Gain Higher Ground which trains and supports people on how to start and grow their online businesses.

After being successful online myself I realised that many others were struggling to do the same due to the ever changing landscape of the internet and the large amount of misinformation about web marketing.

So I set up my company to deliver hype-free top quality coaching and training on internet marketing. We help with everything from building websites, product creation, attracting traffic and converting prospects into paying customers. 

Before I escaped...

I ran my own web-business which helped home-based traders improve their trading skills. Before that I was a fund manager in the City so I was able to bring a lot of my own investment strategies and tactics from that environment to the home market.

My moment of truth...

The realisation that I enjoyed my job but hated the 9-5 regime. Actually it was more like 7-7 or more for me.

Financial success is great but freedom of lifestyle and being able to plan your own day is really incredibly important too. Now I work from home, speak to contacts and partners all of the World on a daily basis and attend physical meetings locally once or twice a week.

How I organise my time is up to me. I love it!

Planning for it...

I created a business plan and studied marketing on a part time basis.

The great thing with a typical web business is that the start up costs are extremely low compared to a traditional offline enterprise. So there really wasn't any need for me to raise finance or indeed stress my own bank account.

The worst and best bits...

The worst part was the total "information overload" I had when I started out. I was subscribed to the mailing lists of multiple "experts", all of whom were advising me to do different strategies and tactics. 

The best part is knowing that my personal enjoyment and financial success are all down to my own actions. I find this really fulfilling as no longer am I riding on the bandwagon of someone else's company.

Of course, the opposite is also true: When things go wrong you take 100% of the hit! But you learn to ride the rough with the smooth pretty quickly after you move from employee to business owner....

Best advice...

Focus on a single business strategy (preferably one that has proven results) and stick to it until you achieve your results. It's so easy to respond to left field ideas and have your progress diluted.

Useful resources and information...

The book http://www.amazon.co.uk/myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280">E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber is hands down the best advice I've seen for anyone looking to set up a small business whether it be online or offline.